MADISON – Jarrod Uthoff’s transfer out of the Wisconsin program last spring set off a firestorm regarding Bo Ryan and his transfer policies. The Badgers veteran head coach had placed restrictions on several schools, which limited the programs Uthoff would be allowed to transfer to and subsequently caught the ire of national pundits.
By the time Uthoff, a highly touted prospect that spent one year in Madison, decided to transfer to Iowa, all of the restrictions Ryan originally placed on the freshman forward were lifted.
When Wisconsin plays inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena Saturday night it will be the first such reunion with Uthoff since he decided to leave the UW program. He isn’t eligible to play this season due to NCAA rules, but he will definitely be in attendance.
Ryan and several of his players were asked about Uthoff following Thursday’s practice. Here are their thoughts:
JARED BERGGREN:
“I probably won’t go out of my way (to talk to him). I don’t think I would really do that with any opponents, even with some of the guys at Minnesota. I kind of know some of those guys and played AAU with them. I’m not going to go out of my way to talk to him (Uthoff). I’ll probably talk to him before in shootaround and shake his hand or something, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary.”
TRAEVON JACKSON:
“I don’t have anything against Jarrod. He’s a good guy. I’ll definitely say hello to him and that I wish him the best for him.”
MIKE BRUESEWITZ:
“I’ll say what’s up to him. I’ll say hi to him and wish him the best. But we’re down there for a business trip, obviously. He was part of our team and part of our program. I was with him for a year and went against him. I’ve heard good things. I’ve heard he’s doing very well down there. No grudges or anything like that. I’ll say what’s up, but I’m not going to be mad at him and stone face him.“You’ve got to look at it in the sense he was an 18-year-old kid and when he made the decision to come here he was 17. He wanted to go back on his decision. He’s 17, man. Yeah, it went down sour and it wasn’t great, but at the end of the day he’s still a kid. We all are.“You’re allowed to make decisions. I wasn’t made when he transferred or anything like that. Everybody has had those thoughts. That’s just how it goes. Sometimes it doesn’t work out. You hope he’s happy down there and wish him all the best.”
BO RYAN:
-On whether he plans to talk to Uthoff“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I just hope I’m able to talk to anybody. If I don’t get rid of this bug I won’t be saying much.”
That top photo is the wallpaper on my phone now. But what I wonder is why it looks like a noon game in the photo? The concourse is lit up like it's a sunny day, and the game started well after it got dark.